A trader who witnessed the incident said the Tibetans crossing over the border on foot were caught at Legme, handcuffed and taken to the police station in Simikot, the administrative headquarter of Humla district of Karnali Zone in the northwestern corner of the country.

The six ruddy-complexioned Tibetans in traditional clothing had crossed from Purang County in Ngari prefecture.

The trader said the handcuffed Tibetan refugees were wailing in great distress at their fate and were pleading the police with folded hands not to take them back to the Chinese while the local Nepalese pleaded the police to let them go.

A Tibetan living in Kathmandu said the Nepali bystanders were waved off from approaching them closer and warned of dire consequences if they share information of the incidence.

The six were handed over to Chinese border guards the same evening.

Crossing over into Nepal has been the chief route employed by later Tibetan escapees to India until 2008.

Nepal, since 2008, had become increasingly difficult for Tibetans escaping through and living in the country as the Kathmandu government heightened restrictions on the community to prevent offending China.

It has gone overboard in recent years in upholding its "One-China Policy" that Beijing demands from it.

There remain 14,000 Tibetan refugees in the country now, mostly around Kathmandu and Pokhra.